Lifesaving equipment



1945. F. F. PATTEN 2,366,455

LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT Filed 001:. 21, 1942 AT TORNE Patented Jan. 2', 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT Fred F. Patten, Woonsocket, R. I., assignor to United States Rubber Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 21, 1942,'Serial No. 462,867

3 Claims. (01.,244-147) the life-saving equipment embodying this inven- This invention relates to life-saving equipment for aviators and particularly to life-saving equipment packs adapted to be stored in airplanes so that they can be conveniently attached to the aviator while heis seated without being removed from its stored position.

Heretofore packs for life-saving parachute rafts have been carried. either on the back of the aviator, attachedto'the shoulder straps of the parachute harness or as a seat, attached to the crotch straps of the parachute harness. -When the pack is carried on the back, the shoulders'of the aviator support the packat all times while he is in the plane. which unduly tires the shoulder muscles, hinders his action, and when the avi-, ator Jumps from the plane, the pack is liable to interfere with the opening of the parachute. As

tion secured at the side of the aviator;

Fig. 2 ;is an isometric top view of the seat in the airplane 'showing the pack containing and forming a part of the life-saving equipment supported on the side of the seat;

Fig 3 is a modified form of the invention showing the pack containing the life-saving equipment attached to the front of the aviator in a In accordance with this invention the foregoing disadvantages are eliminated by storing and normally directly supporting the pack on a part of the plane, and in such a position that it can be quickly attached to the aviator while he is sitting in his seat. The attaching means are so arranged that the pack is secured to the lower portion of the aviators harness, either on the side or in front of the aviator. When the pack is in either of such positions, it does not interfere with the operation of the parachute pull string, or the opening of the parachute. Preferably the pack is normally stored and supported on the side or front of the aviators seat, and may remain so supported after the pack is attached to the harness, and until the aviator is ready to leave his seat. Means are provided for quickly releasing the pack from the seat from the aviator desires to leave it, for example when he is ready to jump from the plane. Further, the inflation valve is readily accessible, and the raft can be inflated and discharged from its pack in one turn or pull of the valve handle.

The invention and its foregoing advantage will be more clearly understood by referring to the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a standing view of an aviator showing standing position; and

Fig. 4 is an isometric top view of the seat in the plane showing the life-saving equipment pack attached to the front of the seat, and in position to be attached to the aviators harness as shown in Fig. 3, but while the aviator is seated.

The life-saving equipment pack may be supported by the plane in any position convenient for attachment to the aviator while so supported, and While the aviator is seated. Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the life-saving equipment comprises a pack l0 which contains a parachute life raft. The-pack is normally supported by a strap H secured to the side l2 of the aviators seat l3 by screws Id. The strap H is provided at its .ends with a quickly releasable buckle l5 which is adaptedto secure the ends together and the strap around the pack. The strap i6 passes through an eye in a snap hook I1, and each end of the strap is secured to the pack I0 while they extend longitudinally of the pack. One end of a strap I8 is secured to the opposite end of the pack III while it extends circumferentially of the pack. A snap hook I9 is secured tothe free end of the strap l8. A ring 2 0 is secured to the pack i0, and the hook I9 is adapted to be snapped into the ring 20.

When the aviator is seated in the plane seat |3.with his parachute harness 2| adjusted on his body, the hook I! can be attached to the ring 22 of the harness, and the strap I8 is adapted to be passed around the leg of the aviator and snapped on the ring 20 as shown in Fig. 1. In the event the aviator desires to stand up, or jump from the plane, he releases the buckle l5, which permits the pack III to drop out of the strap ll. When he stands up the pack I0 is secured to the aviator in the position shown in Fig. 1. After jumping the aviator pulls the rip cord and releases the parachute in the usual manner;

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the life-saving equipment pack 23 is attached to the front edge of the plane seat 24 by means of a strap 25 secured to such edge. The

strap is provided with a quickly releasable buckle the parachute harness 3 I.

26, which secures the endsof the strap together and thereby retains the pack 23 within the surrounding strap. The pack 23 is provided with two straps 21 having each of their ends 28 secured to the opposite sidesof the pack at each end thereof, while the ends extend radially of the pack and so that the straps extend from the pack transversely to its axis and towards the back of the seat 24. The straps 21 pass through an eye on the snap hooks 29 which are adapted to secure the pack 23 to the harness.

When the aviator is seated in the seat 24, his legs extend over the pack 23, and the snap hooks 29 can be snapped into the rings 30 (Fig. 3) on When the snap hooks 29 are so secured and the aviator desires to leave his seat, he releases the buckle 26, and before or after standing he pulls the pack 23 between his legs so as to position the pack in front of him. Upon standing the pack 23 will drop to the position shown in Fig. 3 in front of the aviator. When the aviator takes the parachute leap, the pack-23 will tend to fly upwards, but the straps 2'! are sufficiently short to prevent the pack from striking the aviator in the stomach or face, However, if the aviator desires to stabilize the pack 23 he can do so with his hands, since the pack remains in reach of him.

The packs I and 23 being in either of the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3, they do not interfere with the opening of the parachute. When the aviator strikes the water, or just before he strikes, whether the pack III is in the position shown in Fig. 1, or whether the pack 23 is in the position shown in Fig.3, he can open the packs by uns napping the fasteners 32 or 33 to permit the removal of the parachute life raft or other life saving equipment that may be contained in the packs. In the event that the life-saving raft is carried, it may be inflated by releasing CO2 from a container into the raft. The valve for releasing the CO2 may be located on the raft underneath the pack flap to which the snap fasteners 32 or 33 are afiixed, and in such position that it isreadily accessible to the aviator, and so that the raft can be inflated with one turn of the valve handle. The inflating pressure will automatically discharge the raft from the pack.

While the preferred forms of this invention have been described, it will be understood that changes in the details hereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or v the scope of the app nded claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an airplane, a life-saving equipment pack for attachment to an aviator while seated in said plane comprising means for securing said pack to a support in the plane while detached from the aviators harness and in position so that the pack can be attached to the harness of the aviator while the pack is so supported, .a strap secured to one end of the pack, said strap being provided with means operable by the aviator for securing said pack to the harness on the aviator at the lower portion of said aviator while he is seated, and means for quickly releasing said means which secures said pack to said support.

2. In combination with an airplane, a lifesaving equipment pack for attachment to an aviator while seated in-said plane, said equipment pack comprising a strap secured to the. top end thereof, said strap having a fastener adapted 'to be quickly attached to the aviators harness,

at about the waistline, a second strap secured at one end to the bottom end of the pack, said second strap having a fastener secured to its opposite end and adapted to pass around the leg of the aviator, a member secured to the lower end of said pack to which said second fastener is adapted to be attached, means for securing said pack to the side of the seat of'the plane to normally support said pack, and means for quickly releasing said last mentioned securing means.

3. In combination with an airplane, a life-saving equipment pack for attachment to an aviator while seated in said plane, means for securing said pack to the front end of a plane seat to normallysupport said pack while it is being and after it'has been attached to said aviator, and'meansfor quickly releasing said securing means, said pack having straps attached to each end thereof, and fasteners secured to said straps and adapted to be brought between the aviators legs and attached to the aviators harness in front of said aviator while he is seated.

FRED F. PATTEN. 

